Apparatus for sealing cartons



June 11, 1940. H. s. Fox Er Al.

` APPARATUS FOR SELING CARTONS 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1939mvENTORs .14A/my S. n y BY 7k W Emensnl #4 MIL ATTORNEY ENMETH June 1l,1940. H. s. Fox Er AL APPARATUS FOR SEAT-:ING CRTONS Filed Aug. 1 1939 l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HARRY $.1Foy BY KENNETH W. EMERsoN June 11,1940. H. s, FQX E1- AL 2,203,900

' APPARATUS Fon sEALING cAaToNs Filed Aug. 1, 19:59 A 4 sheets-sheet s fm4. A/J

ATTORNEY June 1 1, 1940.

H. s. FOX ET AL APPARATUS Fon SEALING cARTQNs 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4FiledAug.v l,l 1939 TTORNEY was@ KJ Patented June 11, 1940 um'rrzl) STATES*PA-TENT. ori-ICE Arm-nuns Foa sEaLmGcAaToN's v fefgffg'a PineappleCompany, Limited, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii; a.. corporation of theTerritory appumionnugussf 1. 1939, sensi No. 287.770

The present invention relates to the c1osing and sealing of cartonsafter they have been packed with articles, and more particularly toapparatusv for inserting and securing illler strips L. between theopposed ends of the narrow unmeeting ilaps of a packed carton.

'I'he conventional 'iibreboard carton employed for packing canned goodsand the like is rectangular in shape having side andvend hingedflaps-forming the top and bottom. The combined width of the side flapsis substantially equal to the width of the carton but to make thecombined 80' tom of the carton, usually the inner surface, as

the side aps are generally sealed over the end ilaps for reasons ofappearance and vbecause the spaced end aps would be apt to catch andtear open during shipment if on the outside ofthe` $5' carton.

' This uneven inner surface at top and bottom of the packed cartons is acause of considerable damage to the contents during shipment,particularly in the case of such articles as canned goods, .bottles andthe like. In the case of canned goods,

for example, the cans in the vertical central layers are, due to the gapat the bottom of the carton, oiset below adjacent layers and are capableof greater vertical shifting because of the increased depth of thecarton at the central gaps. As a' result, the cans in these layers areliable to lnterlocktheir end rims or chines, and dent each other andscui their labels when the carton is subjected to rough handling. Forsimilar rea- 40 sons, like' damage and even breakageis apt to resultwith bottles and other fragile containers. To remedy this difficulty, ithas heretofore been proposed to provide the carton blank, prior tofolding, with tabs secured'to a surface at the vl5 portions intended toconstitute the inner surface of the side flaps, in position to liewithin the gaps between the end flaps when the carton is folded. Whilecartons formed from such blanks are generally satisfactory as regards asmooth inner surface at top and bottom for level riding of the contents,the expenseof securing the tabs properly to the blanks is great,requiring special treatment and a time-consuming hand operation orcomplicated expensive machinery so that the lil cost of the blank isincreased substantially more furtherV substantial disadvantageof thismethod y is that the thickness of the blanks is doubled S0 that thespace required for shipment and storage is likewise doubled.

Y It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus forautomatically securing a filler strip in the gap between Va pair of endiiaps of a carton after it has been formed Afrom theflat blank andpacked', thereby obviating the diiiiculties consequent on the presenceof said .gap inv prior packed cartons while at thev same time avoidingany substantial increase in shipping and storage space required for thecomponent parts of the carton.v A further object of the invention is tosupply ller strip inserting mechanism of relatively inexpensiveconstruction which is adapted'to insert the strip in the 'carton'whileit is being operated upon by a sealing machine and to make use of meanspresent in such machines for opening up the side aps and subsequentlysealing them to the end iiaps so that insertion of the filler strip neednot increase the time nor to any signiiicant extent the expense nowAreqi'iired for the sealing of cases.

.The apparatus Aof this invention is adapted to between the upper pairof end aps of a packed carton, said. gap being exposed upwardly byopening the upper side flaps, Consequently it can, at a singleoperation,apply a filler between but one pair of the end flaps, which may beeither the top or bottom pair dependingupon whether the case is fedthereto right side up or upside down,. although, of course, when a llerstrip' has been secured between one pair of end iiaps the position ofthe case may be reversedand a second flller piece secured between theother pair of end flaps either by the same machine .or a successivemachine. However, carton sealing machines are generally designed to-seal both the Yinsert the filler piece downwardly into the gap top andbottom ofthe carton in one operation' will now be more particularlydescribed in con- Vjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of part of a. carton wardly onto horizontalslides |00 secured to the.

broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with parts broken away of the magazine andejector mechanism and of a packed carton thereunder at the end of itsactuating engagement with the ejector mechanism, showing the ejectedller piece in position between the end ilaps;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ejector mechanism taken on a horizontalsection through the lower end of the magazine;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the magazine and ejector mechanism and ofa carton in the position of Fig. 2.

For the complete accomplishment of its purpose, the inventioncontemplates the provision of means for opening the top side ilaps of apacked carton, means for inserting a filler strip into the gap betweenthe top end iiaps onto the contents of the carton, and means to thenclose and seal the top side Ailaps over the end flaps and ller strip.Suitable ilap opening, closing and sealing means are, however, presentin carton sealing machines now in use, so that the invention may beconsidered as in the nature of a modiiication of such machines by theaddition thereto of mechanism for inserting the filler strips at asuitable time during the operation of the machines, and it is soillustrated herein.

In the carton sealing machine shown in Fig. 1, an elongated main framestructure |00 supports a central slide |0| along which the packedcartons A are continuously conveyed from left to right in Fig. 1,between laterally adjustable guide rails |02 by lmeans of propeller bars|03 secured at their ends to endless sprocket chains |04 extending alongopposite sides of the slide over driven sprocket wheels |05 at the rearend of the slide' and idler sprocket wheels' (not shown) at the forwardend of the slide. are advanced along the slide |0| into the path of apair of front plows |05, suspended from a cross shaft |01 at oppositesides of the slide |0I, which enter under the top side ilaps, asindicated in Fig. 1, and open them upwardly and outguide rails |02 alongopposite sides of theslide |0I. As the cartons .are advanced beyond thefront plows |06 the top side flaps are carried along the slides |00under a pair of gluing rollers |00 mounted on across shaft ||0 and fed-by glue tanks said rollers |09 applying a coating of glue to the innerface of the top side aps. As the cartons are further vadvanced along theslide |0I, the top side flaps encounter a pair of rear plows ||2connected to the guide rails |02 at opposite sides of the conveyor, therear plows acting to fold the top side aps back over the top end flaps.The cartons then pass under a presser foot IIS, suspended over the rearend of the slide |0I, which, together with ilanged rollers ||4 on therear end of the guide rails |02, press the top side flaps down on to theend flaps suiiiciently to eiIect preliminary sealing of the top of thecartons. The cartons then pass of! the rear end oi the slide |0| and mayenter further apparatus (not shown) which applies ilnal sealingpressure.

A motor 5 is provided at the rear end of 'I'he cartons the machine tooperate, through suitable drive connections partially indicated in thedrawings, driven parts such as the sprockets |05 and the gluing rollershaft |09. 'I'he position of the guide rails |02 and of the plows andgluing means associated with them may be adjusted to accommodatediierent sized cartons by means of the hand shafts |01 and |16, thelatter shaft having sprocket and chain connection (not shown) within acasing I1 with a cross shaft I I8 through which adjustment of the rearends of the guide rails |02 and the rear plows ||2 is effected. Toprevent undesirable springing up of the end flaps While the side flapsare held open, a iiat rail IIS, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, maybe suspended from'the casing IIS in position to slidably engage the topsurface 'of the end flaps.

Generally, carton sealing machines such as that illustrated herein areprovided with means for simultaneously sealing the top and bottom sideflaps of the carton. However, as the present invention is not concernedwith means for sealing the bottom of the carton, it has been deemedunnecessary to show or describe them herein.

'Ihe case sealing apparatus so far described is substantially similar tothat shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,095,258, datedOctober 12, 1937, to which reference may be had, said patent alsodescribing suitable mechanism for feeding the cartons onto the slide |0|in iront of successive pusher bars |04 and means for sealing the bottomof the cartons as they are advanced along tl-e slide.

According to the present invention there is attached to the apparatus sofar described means for inserting a filler strip in the gap between theupper' end iiaps of a carton while it is advancing along the slide ||0Iwith its top side flaps held open. The means for this purpose shown inthe accompanying drawings comprises a magazine I0 for a supply of fillerstrips attached to a suitable support, such as the shaft |01, to overliethe slide |0| between'the iront plows |06 and rear plows ||2, andmechanism, designated generally by the reference numeral I2, adapted torelease the bottom filler strip from the magazine to fall into theexposed gap between the upper end ilaps of a carton as it is advancedthereunder along the slide |0|'.

As is more particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the magazine I0comprises a front wall I3, a rear wall Il and side walls I5 securedtogether and to a base plate I8 to form a rectangular box. A bracket armI1 bolted to the walls I3, I4 serves to secure the magazine in uprightposition to the supporting structure, centered over the slide |0|. Theller strips are stacked flat in the magazine with their ends adjacentthe side walls I5, said walls being provided with apertures I0 extendingfrom the top to adjacent 'the base which show at a glance the conditionof the supply of iiller strips in the magazine as an indicator forrefilling. The magazine is made adjustable for different widths offiller strips by means of vertically disposed guide plates I5 secured tobolts 20 projecting through openings in the front wall I3, the platesbearing against one side edge of the ller strips and being adjustable toand from the rear wall Il by means oi wing nuts 2| on the outer ends ofthe bolts 20.

The front and rear walls I3 and I4 extend laterally beyond the sidewalls I5 and are cut away at their lower edges, between the side wallsI5, to provide transverse slots 22 and 23. The base plate I5 extendsforwardly of the front wall I6 is cut away between the side walls I5 toproj vide a transverse slot 25 coinciding with the slot 23 in the rearwall I4. 'I'he upper surface of this plate between the side walls I5 andfront wall I3 is provided with longitudinal corrugations 26 (see Fig. 5)which reduce chafage of the filler strips slid thereovcr.

The lower side edges of the front wall I3 and -rear Wall I4, beyond theside wal1s I5, are provided with aligned apertures 21 and'23connect' edby a sleeve 23, through which are slidably received rods 33, the forwardends of which are attached, by means of clamps 3l to ejector plate32.Ejector plate 32 rhas a thickness less than the ldepth of the vslot 22and of a lfiller piece II, and,

as best shown in Figs. `3 and 4, has a rearward end of reduced widthcorresponding to the width of the slot 22 through which it is adapted toreciprocate on reciprocation of the rods 33, the reduced portion havinga length slightly greater than the distance from the front wall I3 tothe forward edge of the slot 25 in the base plate I6. A collar 33,adjustably mounted on the rods 33 beyond the rearward end of the plate32, isadapted to engage the rear wall I4 to limit forward movement ofthe rods 33 through the apertures 21 and 23 and sleeves 29.

At the rearward ends of the rods 33 there are secured forked members 34constituting an extension of the rods 33. At the rearward end of each ofthese forked members, between the side arms thereof, there is pivotallymounted, by means of a stud-35 a trigger plate 36. As shown in Fig,v 3,the upper end of each plate 36A above the fork '34, is rounded andprovided with aforwardly faced ratchet tooth 31 adapted for engagementwith the end of a trigger lever 33 pivotally mounted on a stud 39between the side arms of each forked member 34 adjacent the `forward endthereof. The forward edge of the plate 36 below the fork 34 is providedwith a. laterally projecting flange '43 (see Fig. 5) adapted to engagethe front end of a carton advancing along the slide Ill.

The forward ends of levers 33 are provided with upwardlyextending arms4I adapted to engage stops 42 adjustably mounted on the rearward ends ofthreaded rods 43 extending through the outer ends of the front andreasi` walls I3 and I4 of the magazine, above and parallel to the rods33. An inverted channel member or hood 44 surrounds the rearward end ofeach of the levers 33, this hood being adapted to receive the upper endofthe trigger plate 36, between' its side 'walls to guide the rear endof the lever 33 into engagement with the tooth 31. Coil springs 45,

connected at one end to the collars 33 and at the other end to collars46 adjustably mounted on the forward end of rods 43, tend to hold therods 33 and connected parts in their retracted or forward position shownin Fig. 2.

As the carton A is advanced along the slid I3I from the position of Fig.l to the position of Fig. 2, its top side flaps S are opened by thefront plows |36 fully exposing the top end aps E which normally lie fiaton the upper surface*l vanism. Obviously, if the filler strip II is ofthe non or the bottom plate le of the magazine. 'as the carton entersunder the magazine, the ejector mechanism 'is in the position shown inFig. 2 with the bars 33 and ejector plate 32 in retracted or forwardposition 'and with the levers 33 en- 3 .gaging the teeth 31 of thetrigger plates 36 to hold the iianges 43 vertically in the path of theadvancing carton. When .the carton reaches the position 'of Fig. 2 inwhich the gap G between the end flaps is approximately centered belowthe magazine, the front end of the case engages the flanges 43 on thetrigger plates 36 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. As the carton is furtheradvanced to the right of the position shown in Fig. .2, the trigger-plates 36 are prevented from turning about their pivots 35 byengagement of the end Y of the levers 33 with the teeth 31 andconsequently'these plates and levers, the forks 34, bars 33 and ejectorVplate 3'2 are drawn rearwardly with the carton, the rear edge of theejector plate 32` engaging the forward side edge of the bottom fillerstrip dI I4 of the stock in the magazine and pushing it rearwardly intime with the travel of the carton., expelling it sidewise from themagazine through the communicating slots 23 and 25, as indicated in Fig.4, into the position of Fig. 3, v whence it drops at onto the top of thecontents of the carton in the gap G which has remained centered belowit.

As the ejection of the filler piece I I from thi, magazine is completed,the -upwardly projecting arms 4I strike the stops 42 and further forwardmotion of the carton therefore turns the levers 33 about their pivots39, releasingthem from engagement with the teeth 31 of the trigger`plates 36, as sho'wn in Fig. 3. 'I'he plates 36 are 4then free to turnabouttheir pivots to4 release the slidable parts of the ejectormechanism from operative connection with the carton, these parts beingthen drawn back over the advancing carton to initial position by thesprings 45. f The plate 32 is thus withdrawn from under the'stack offiller strips, permitting the lowermost strip to drop to position forejection by the next advancement of the plate 32. As the arms 4I arewithdrawn from the stops 42, the rearward ends ofthe levers 42 fall downupon the rounded upper portion of the plates 36 beyond the teeth 31,these plates being now turned to substantially horizontal position andriding along the top-of the carton. As the rear end of the cartonadvances from under the trigger plates 36, they turn downwardly abouttheir pivots until, under the guidance of hoods 44, the ends of thelevers 33 drop to position in front of the teeth 31 and the mechanism isagain set in the manner shown in Fig. 2

. heslve on their inner surface, are refolded over the end flaps and arethen sealed thereto by the presser foot II3 and subsequent pressuremechsame thickness as the end flaps E and the side flaps are coated withadhesive throughout-their length, the side flaps will be alsosimultaneously sealed to the filler strip, although this is not es-lsential, as the mere sealing of the side naps to 1I the end ilaps issuilicient to secure the ller piece permanently, though loosely, in thegap G, it being largely immaterial whether the filler piece is fixed orloose in the gap of the sealed carton.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular type of carton sealing apparatus chosen for the sake ofillustrating the invention. Indeed, while it is generally preferable, inaccordance with the invention, to insert the filler piece while thecarton is being operated on by aseallng machine, and therefore to addthe ller inserting mechanism to the sealing machine, it is not essentialto do so. For example, the filler inserting mechanism, together withsuitable side flap opening means such as the plows |06, may, if desired,be disposed over the conveyer system which carries the packed cartons tothe sealing machine, so that the carton reaches the sealing machine withthe ller piece already in position in the gap G.

It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific form and arrangement of parts in the filler inserting mechanismbut that various changes may be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer flaps overunmeeting inner flaps, the combination of means for opening a pair ofsaid outer flaps to expose the gap between a pair of said unmeetinginner flaps, and to position a ller strip on the contents of said cartonbetween the edges of said exposed gap.

2. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer aps overunmeeting inner flaps, the combination of means for opening a pair ofsaid outer flaps to expose the gap "etween a pair of said unmeetinginner ilaps, means to position a filler strip on the contents of saidcarton bevtween the edges of said exposed gap, means to apply adhesiveto the inner' surface of said outer flaps, and -means to close saidouter flaps over said inner flaps and illler strip.

3. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer flaps overunmeeting inner flaps, means for advancing a packed carton with a pairof said outer flaps open to expose the gap between a pair of saidunmeeting inner flaps and means to position a filler strip on thecontents of said carton between the edges of said exposed gap.

4. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer flaps overunmeeting inner flaps, means for advancing a packed carton with a pairof said outer flaps open to expose the gap between a pair of saidunmeeting inner flaps, means to position a ller strip on the contents ofthe carton between the edges of said exposed gap, means t0 applyadhesive to the inner surface of said outer flaps, and means to closesaid outer aps over said inner flaps and filler strip.

5. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer flaps overunmeeting inner flaps, means for opening the outer flaps at the top ofthe carton to expose the gap between the top inner flaps and means todrop a filler strip to lie in horizontal position in said exposed gap.

6. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer ilaps overunmeeting inner flaps, means for opening the outer flaps at the top ofthe carton to expose the gap between the top inner flaps, means to dropa flller strip to lie in horizontal position in said exposed gap, meansto apply adhesive to the inner surface of said outer flaps, and means toclose said outer flaps over said inner naps and illler strip.

7. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing together pairs ofside and end aps in overlapped relation, the combination of means tofeed a packed carton with an unmeeting pair of said flaps exposed at thetop in substantially horizontal position, means to drop a filler stripto horizontal position in the gap between the ends of said exposedunmeeting flaps and means to secure said overlapping flaps to saidfiller strip lying in said gap.

8. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer flaps overunmeeting inner flaps, means for advancing a packed carton with theouter flaps at the top of the carton open to expose the top inner apsand means to drop a filler strip to horizontal position in the gapbetween said exposed inner flaps.

9. In apparatus for sealing packed cartons by securing outer aps overunmeeting inner flaps,

' means for advancing 4a packed carton with the outer flaps at the top fthe carton open to expose the top inner aps, means to drop a fillerstrip to horizontal position in the gap between said exposed inner aps,means to apply adhesive to the inner surface of said open outer flapsand means to close said outer flaps over said inner flaps and fillerstrip.

10. In apparatus of the character described. means for advancing apacked carton having at the top thereof unmeeting inner flaps and outerflaps adapted to be sealed thereover, means for opening said outer flapsto fully expose the gap between said inner flaps and means to drop aller strip to horizontal position in said exposed gap.

11. In apparatus of the character described, means for advancing apacked carton having at the top thereof unmeeting inner flaps and outerflaps adapted to be sealed thereover, means for opening said outer flapsto fully expose the gap betwen said inner aps, means to apply adhesiveto the inner surface of said outer flaps, means to drop a filler stripinto said gap, and means to close said outer fia'ps over said innerflaps and filler strip.

12. In apparatus of the character described, means for advancing apacked carton having at the top thereof unmeeting inner flaps and outerflaps adapted to be sealedl thereover, means for opening said outerflaps to fully expose the gap between said inner flaps, means to applyadhesive to the inner surface of said outer flaps, means to drop afiller strip into said gap, means to close said outer flaps over` saidinner flaps and ller strip and means to prevent said unmeeting flapsfrom rising substantially o' the contents of the packed carton.

13. Apparatus for inserting a filler strip in the gap between the endsof unmeeting flaps in a packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting flaps exposed, means forsupporting a filler strip over the path of travel of the carton on saidconveyer, and means operated in timed relation to the travel of thecarton on the conveyer to releasesaid filler strip from said supportingmeans when in registration with said gap.

14. Apparatus for inserting a ller strip in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting flaps in a packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting ilaps exposed, means forsupporting a filler strip over the path of travel of the carton on saidconveyer, and means operated by the advancing carton to release saidller strip from said supporting means when in registration with saidgap.

15. Apparatus for inserting a filler strip in the I gap between the endsof unmeeting iiaps in .a

packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted to advancea packed cartonwith said unmeeting flaps exposed at the top thereof, means forpositioning a filler strip over the path of travel of the cartonon saidconveyer, and/'means Aoperative on arrival of the carton under' saidpositioning means'to release said filler strip to drop to horizontalposition in said gap.

16. Apparatus for inserting a ller strip in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting flaps in a packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting iiaps exposed at the topthereof, means for positioning a filler strip over the path of travel ofstrip from said magazine over the path of travel of the carton on saidconveyer, and means oper- [ating said ejecting means in timed relationto the travel of the carton' on the conveyer whereby said iiller stripis ejected in registration with said gap.

-18. Apparatus for inserting a nller strip in the gap between the endsof unmeeting naps in a packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting flaps exposed, a.l magazinefor storing a supply of ller strips adjacent the path of travel of thecarton on the conveyer, means to eject a iiller strip from said magazineover the path of travel of the carton on said conveyer, and meansengagea le with the advancing carton to operate said Jector means toeject said filler strip in registration with said gap.

19. Apparatus for inserting a ller strip in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting flaps ina packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting flaps exposed at the topthereof, a magazine for storing a supply of filler strips to one side ofthe path of travel of the carton on the conveyer, means to eject afiller strip from said magazine over the path of travel of the carton onsaid conveyer, and means operating said ejecting means in timedvrelationto the travel of the carton onthe conveyer whereby said ejected iillerstrip drops to horizontal position in said gap.

20. Apparatus for inserting a ller strip in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting yaps in a packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting flaps exposed at the topthereof, a magazine Vfor storing a stack of filler strips over the pathof travel of the carton on the conveyer, and means operative on arrivalof the carton under said magazine to release a filler strip therefrom inposition to drop to horizontal position in said gap.

21. Apparatus for inserting a ller strip in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting ilaps in a packed carton. comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting flaps exposed at the topthereof; a. magazine for storing a stack of ller strips over the path oftravel of the carton on the conveyer and means operated by the advancingcarton to' release. a filler strip from the magazine in position to dropto horizontal position in said gap.

22. Apparatus for inserting a ller in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting aps in a packed carton, comprising a-conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting flaps exposed at the topthereof, means to. register a iiller strip above' said gap in saidcarton advancing along said conveyer,` and means to release said illlerstrip while in registry with said gap whereby said strip drops into saidgap to lie horizontally on the contents of said cartonf:

23. Apparatus for inserting a. illler strip in the gap between the endsof unmeeting flapsin a packed carton, comprising a conveyer adapted toadvance a packed carton with said unmeeting naps exposed at the topthereof. means .t0 resister a filler strip above said gap in said cartonadvancing along said conveyer, and means operated by the advancingcarton to release said ller strip while in registry with said gapwhereby said strip drops into said gap to lie horizontally on thecontents of said carton.

24. Apparatus for inserting a. iiller strip in the gap between the endsof unmeeting flaps in acarton,V comprising a conveyer adapted to advancea carton with said unmeeting naps exposed at the top thereof. a magazinefor a. stack of filler strips disposed adjacent the path of saidadvancing canton, a slot in a side wall of the magazine affordingpassage for a filler strip of said stack laterally therethrough,'ejector.means engageable with said iler strip to force it through said slot,and means engageable with a carton advancing on the conveyer to operatesaid ejector means to eject said filler strip from said magazine oversaid advancing carton in registration with said gap.

25. Apparatus for inserting a filler strip in the gap between the endsof unmeeting aps in a carton, comprising a conveyer adapted to advance acarton with said unmeeting naps exposed at the top thereof, a magazinefor a stack of iiller strips disposed adjacent the path of saidadvancing carton, a slot in a side wall of the magazine affordingpassage for a. filler strip of said stack laterally therethrough, areciprocal slide adjacent the magazine and adapted to engage said fillerstrip to force it through said slot, and trigger means connected to saidslide and engageable with said advancing carton to operate said slide toeject said strip in registration with said gap.

26. Apparatus for inserting a ller strip in the gap between the ends ofunmeeting flaps in a carton, comprising a conveyer adapted to advance acarton with said unmeeting aps exposed at the top thereof, a magazinefor a stack of filler strips disposed adjacent'the path of saidadvancing carton, a slot in a side wall of the magazine affordingpassage for a tlller strip of said stack laterally therethrough,reciprocal pusher means adjacent the magazine and adapted to engage saidfiller strip to force it through said slot, means engageable with saidadvancing carton to operate said pusher means to eject said iiller stripin registration 'with said gap, and means to returnl said pusher meansto initial position.

naRRYaFox. Y KENNETHW..

CERTI'ICATE oFV coRREcTIoN.

Patent No. 2,205,900. June 11, 191m.

HARRY s. Fox, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page )4,first column, line 51, 011111111, after the word "and" insert -means;and that the vsaid Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to-the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of July, D. 1911.0.

Henry Van Arsdale', (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

